Beehive.



' PATEN-TED ABR, 1.6. 19o?.

C. A. OLMSTEAD.

BEEHIVE. `APPLwA'rnm FILED nu 14. 190e.

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CHESTER A. OLMSTEAD, OF EAST BLOOMFIELD, NEW YORK.

BEEHwE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 16, 190'?.

Application filed May 14,1906. Serial No. 316.874.

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHESTER A. OLMSTEAD, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Bloomfield, in the county of Ontario and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Beehive, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a beehive of improved construction whereby there may be raised 'within the brood-chamber a new queen while the old queen is still doing duty within the hive and that, too, under conditions permitting the new queen to mate, while at the same time preventing any possibility of a meeting between such queens within the brood-chamber.

Another object of my invention is to provide ready means for the inspectionof one or more of the brood-frames in the brood-chamber, in which there may be located queencells. This is for the purpose of determining the progress of affairs within the hive, and

thereby also approximately the time of swarming. The queen-cells are usually located in a brood-frame in practically the center ofthe hive, and I have usually found it sufficient to make a central brood-frame removable for purposes of inspection, as above noted, and

` of course when queen-cells are grafted into a brood-frame they may readily be located in the central brood-frame.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved Ventilating device for the brood-chamber and also a bee-entrance arranged to prevent so far as possible the drifting of snow or extraneous matter into the hive, resulting from a current of air against the bee-entrance.

Still another object of my inventionis to rovide an arrangement of the section honeyhoxes and a separating-fence between them which shall occupy as little space as possible in the super in order that there may be the maximum space within the super for honey.

The accompanying drawings, illustrating a beehive constructed in accordance with my invention, vare as follows: Figure 1 is a side view of the hive with a part of the front casing to the right removed from the super and, similarly, with a part of the front casing to the left removed from the brood-chamber, as

clearly indicated. Fig. 2 shows a plan view view of one of the section honey-box frames, showing the separator-fence and the method of attaching and using the same. Fig. 4 is a top view or plan view of the parts seen in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a front view of the bottom board of the hive. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken through the center of the bottom board. Fig. 7 is a side view of a plain section honey-box frame, such as l make use of between the fenced sections and alternating therewith. Fig. 8 is a side view of one of the brood-frames and Fig. 9 shows a side view of the central frame arran ed to receive the neen-bee cells and shows t e device which employ for rendering such frame removable from the brood-chamber and also the devices which l make use of for excluding the old queen from access to the chamber containing the new queen-cells or the young queen while being reared. lt also shows the device permitting the exit of the young queen from this chamber for the purpose of mating, while at the same time preventing a contact between the old queen and the young queen within the hive'. Fig. 10 is a left-hand end view of the parts seen in Fig. 9 and with the front casing of the brood-chamber removed. Fig. 11 is a side view, and Fig. 12 a viewfrcm the under edge of the frame for carrying the queen-excluding zinc. Fig. 13 is an enlarged end view of the upper and lefthand end of the removable brood-frame.

Similar letters refer to similar throughout the several figures of the ings.

Referring to the drawings, D comprises the bottom of my beehive, upon which there rests the brood-chamber O, with the super B above it and having the removable cover A thereover. The super B contains the section honey-box frames B and B2, resting upon and supported by a metallic cleat e, secured to the under edge of the front and rear sides of the super B. One of the frames B for the section honey-boxes is seen in Fig. 7 and comprises the top piece c and bottom piece c, between which are secured the end pieces a2 and a3. The section honey-boxes c are of such a size that the desired number of them may be forced into the frame B and held in place by friction therewith and with each other at their junctions.

The frames for the section honey-boxes B2, although quite similar to the frames B', are constructed as follows: To a bottom piece a* there are secured upright pieces a2 and e2, as

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.multaneously with the fence s are passed around the .pieces e5 secured thereto.

seen in Fig. 4, with the fence s iirmly secured. between them at about its middle point, and then over the joint between the pieces e and e2 are secured the pieces e', eXtendii'lg to the eXtreme top and bottom of the frame B2, and therefore one on either side of the bottoni piece e4. `The horizontal wires of the separating-fence s are then loosely secured between the edges oi: the upright piece e4 and the pieces e3, secured on the edges thereof. Then the ends of the horizontal wires to the upright a5 and. firmly secured thereto and clamped between the edges of this upright a5 and the side The side pieces e3 and e5 extend downwardly on the outside of the -bottom pieces c4. The upright e, which is secured at its lower end to the bottom piece a4 and at its u per end to the top piece c, is of such 'a lengt i that when clamped between the uprights e2 and e4 the desired number of section honey-boxes will be iirmly clamped between the uprights e2 andeAx sitop piece a. A suitable spring a7 is provided and referably secured to the upright e5, when y the insertion of the wedge a the horizontal wires of the sep arating-fence's may be put under tention and iirmly held in lace, the whole action being such, as willpat once be understood, as to iirmly clamp the section honeyboxes a, between the uprights e2 and e4, while the top piece a prevents too great a thrust being exerted in this way upon the section honey-boxes a. The spring a7 operates to hold the horizontal wires of the fence s under su'llicient tension to keep them straight.

For purposes of economy and convenience it is preferable, although not necessary, that the wires comprising the separating-fence be of ordinary commercial round wire, as less diiiiculty is experienced in handling such wire or a screen made therefrom. I will mention that Ihave used the horizontal wires alone, and I have also used horizontal wires and vertical wires interwoven therewith with very goed results; but on account of the liability oi the vertical wires to be displaced it is desirable that the vertical wires be so interwoven as to present a-selvage edge at the top and bottom of the separating-fence. It is also desirable that at least two of the vertical Wires be omitted opposite the line of union between the section honey-boxes in order that there may be afforded a ready access for the worker bees from one section honey-box to an adjacent one, and for this purpose the fence s is held under tension onehalf of a bee-space distant from the outer edges of the section honey-boxes c, and the horizontal wires of the fence S are at least two-twelfths, and they may advantageously be one-fourth of an inch apart, it being necessary to provide the usual beespace of at least two-twelfths of an inch be- .through the opening d3 preferably tween the side edges of the section honeyboxes in one trame and those of the adjacent i'rame in order that there may be afforded an opportunity for the bees to pass from one section honey-box to another adjacent one, and this therefore necessitates the omission of the vertical wires in the fence s at and Jfor a short distance' each .side of the adjacent edges of the section honey-boxes in each frame. The horizontal wires of the separating-fence being far enough apart lto permit the bees to pass between them, it is then possible to economize space by locating the section honey-box frames B and B2 at such a distance apart that the side edges of the section honey-boxes in the frame B tant from those in the adjacent frame B2 on each side just two-twelfths of an inch to permit the bees to pass to and from the several section honey-boxes in the frames. I will mention that two-twelfths of an inch comprise a bee-space.

I desire to call especial attention to the will be disadvantages resulting from my construction l and arrangement of a separating-fence, in that the fence being held under tension it is held straight and it cannot` sag or become warped, so as to obstruct the passage of the bees from lanyone section honey-box to another, as often occurs in the use of the ordinary separating-fence comprising sheets of perforated metal or metal-bound wire screens.

I will now describe my improved bee opening or entrance to the hive. D is the bottom board. cl is a cleat secured on the under side thereof and cut away partially, so as to present an opening d3, extending inwardly irom the outer edge thereof and connecting with an opening d5, extending upwardly through the bottom board D. Hinged to this bottom board D is seen a swinging lap d, arranged when in its downmost position to rest against the screen d4 and close the opening d3 through the bottom cleat d. Secured to the under side of this bottom board D are seen the cleats d and d2, arranged to reinforce or thicken this board D around on all of its edges. This bottom board D may preferably be built up in sections of matched lumber secured to the cleats d. The construction and arrangement of the parts just described is for the following purpose: Vhen the wind blows toward the hive, it passes and through the screen d4, secured on the back side of the cleat cl and to the rear wall of the opening d5, forcing the hinged lap d to the rear, and any snow or extraneous matter that would otherwise 'be forced upwardly through the opening d5 and into the brood-chamber C is allowed to pass outwardly through the screen d4. This iiap d5 is closed by a current of air in the opposite direction.

To provide for the ventilation of the hive, I secure a screen 0 over a suitable opening in loo ISO

the bottom D, and the portion of the bottom D to the left of the opening is beveled downwardly to the rear, as indicated, and coperating therewith is seen the removable section o', tongued and grooved into the rear section d7 of the bottom board D in such a way that when this beveled section o is forced slightly to the left its right-hand edge may be withdrawn downwardly and out from the bottom board, so as to permit the entrance of air up through the opening thus formed in the bottom board and through the screen o, covering'the same. I prefer to make use of a thin slide 03, supported on cleats 04 and adapted to entirely cover the opening through the bottom board D on the under side, and-so held in place by a spring o2 that this strip 03 may be forced to the left when it is desired. to remove the beveled section 0 from the bottom D7 and when moved to the right, as shown in Fig. 6, it serves to close entirely the opening through the bottom board D from the under side and the joints between the parts just described. and prevents the entrance of cold air.

I will now describe the construction and arrangement of brood-frames which I prefer to make use of in the brood-chamber C and the conformation and arrangement of parts whereby I secure the above-mentioned desirable results in permitting the rearing and mating of a new or young queen while the old queen is still doing duty within the hive. At the upper edge of the front and rear sides of i the brood-chamber I provide metallic cleats c3, having notches therein adapted to receive the bent supporting-wires c, secured in the ends of the brood-frames C2. and at approximately their upper edges. These supporting-wires c4 are so conformed that their'pro jecting upper edgesare approximately on the same level with the top edges of the broodframes C2, and to accommodate these supporting-wires c4 the front and rear sides of the brood-chamber are rabbeted at their up-v per edges, as indicated in Fig. 9, and when the brood-frames C are all in place cleats c5 are inserted over ,the supporting-wires c4, -forming a level surface with the top edge of the front and rear sides of the brood-chamber to receive the bottom edge of the super B. By the use of the metal cleats c3 and the supporting-wires c4 the cementing of the parts together by the bees is prevented.

In the front wall of the brood-chamber I provide a removable portion C, arranged to be normally held in place by the buttons c and preferably beveled on its edges to fit the correspondingly-beveled edges of the opening `in the front of the brood-chamber C, and

upon the removal of this section C the center one of the brood-frames is removable for purposes of examination, &c., as will be ex plained.. This central brood-frame com- `rises a to piece C3, which may preferably be longer t an the top pieces'of the remaining brood-frames, but it is supported in substantially the same way by means of the supporting-wires c4. This top piece C is rabbeted on its edges, as indicated in Figs. 10 and 13, and has secured within the rabbets thus formed angular supporting-cleats 1L, adapted to engage the bar n', preferably of metal, secured to the top bar c of the removable brood-irame. This top piece c and the metal bar n, secured on the upper edge thereof, is, as shown in Fig. 9, somewhat beneath the top of the opening in the front wall of the brood chamber C, normally closed by the removable section C', and this opening thus formed by the removal of the section C at its bottom is slightly below the bottom piece c of the removable brood-frame The removable section of the brood-frame comprises the front and rear end bars c7 and cs, secured to the bar c at their upper ends and also to the bar c" at their lower ends, and between the top bar c6 and the bottom bar e9 there may be secured one or more bars, such as C10, .for the purpose of providing a compartment within which there may be reared a new queen and for which purpose I provide, further, the device to be described.

It is well known that bees in working are apt to cement or glue contiguous parts in the hive together, and it is necessary, therefore, to provide means which will prevent the gluing ofthe removable section of the central broodchamber from its supporting-bar (la. This I accomplish in the following manner: I provide spring-plates n2, adapted to extend over and cover the joint formed between the angular cleats n and the bars n in such a way as to 1prresent a fine spring edge ada ted to press mly against the top piece c o the removable section, as the bee-glue will not adhere rmly enough to the metal spring-plates 72.2 to prevent the withdrawal of the top plate ca of the removable section of the broodframe by sliding between them. These spring-plates n2 may preferably be formed .integrally with the retaining-cleats n, as

shown in Fig. 10 and in an enlarged view in Fig. 13. Between the left-hand end piece c7 of the removable section of the central broodframe and the vertical member c1, inserted betweenV the top piece c(i and the bottom piece c", there is formed a compartment O4, and within this compartment thus formed there may be reared a young queen while the. old queen is still doing duty within the hive by resorting to the following devices: Within this compartment C4 there is contained the usual foundation-comb, in which there may be grafted the usual wooden cell or a queencell7 and then the compartment is closed'by means of the queen-excluding frame C5, comprising top7 bottom, and side pieces, to which there is secured the queen-excluding zinc C, the openings in which permit the ingress and egress of worker-bees, while excluding the old IOO.

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queen. This frame C5 comprises the side pieces t, t', t2, and t, the front side t being rabbeted, as shown, to prevent its going too deeply into the com artment C4, and for this purpose there are a so provided the sto s t4 on the to piece t2 and bottom piece t o this removab e queen-excluding frame C3.

Retaining-buttons t5 are provided to hold the frame C5 in place. An opening t is provided through the end pieces c7 of the removable section of the central brood-charnber and partly through the side t of' the queen-excluding frame C5 to permit the young queen to pass out from the chamber C4 for the purpose of mating, in doing which she passes out of this opening te and through the opening c2, which Jfor this purpose has a metal tube t7 extending inwardly toward the end piece c7 of the removable section of the brood-frame far enough to prevent ingress and egress from the brood-chamber C to the chamber C5.

When it is desired Jfor any purpose to remove the central brood-chamber, the buttons c are turned and the section C of the front of the brood-chamber C is removed by grasping with the thumb and finger the front piece c7 of the removable section of the central brood-chamber. Such removable section may be removed by drawing the same outwardly.

When a new queen is started in the oompartment C4J the worker bees have access thereto through the queen-excluding zinc C6, and in this way the queen is reared, and by removing the removable section of the central brood-frame the progress of affairs in the -hive may be readily learned. The young queen is permitted to pass out through the opening c2 and the tube c7 therein for the purpose of mating at the proper time.

For the-purpose of preventing the broodframes C2 from swinging to and Jfro at their lower edges when the hive is moved I provide a retaining device comprising a rod r, as shown in Figs. l, 2, 9, and l0, extending from one side of the brood-chamber C to the other and journaled in the side walls of the brood-chamber and at their lower edges. This rod or wire 1" is bent to and fro, so that it may bev turned to lie flat and extend wholly beneath the brood-frames C2, or it may be turnedju so that the projections formed therein will come between the brood-frames C2 and serve to keep them properly spaced at their lower edges.

What I claim is- 'f l. In a beehive7 an entrance comprising a passage-way ,extending upwardly through the bottom and within the brood-chamber and connecting therewith a passage-way extending in an approximately horizontal direction through a `downward projection carried by the bottom and such last-named passage-way closed on its rear side by a hinged iap adapted to be opened by a current of air directed toward the opening from without the hive and adapted to be closed and held closed by a current ol air in an opposite direction.

2. In a beehive7 an entrance comprising a passage-way extending upwardly through the bottom and within the brood-chamber and connecting therewith a passage-way extending in an approximately horizontal direction through a downward projection carried by the bottom and a screen extending over the rear opening in such last-named passage-way.

3. In a beehive as a means for Ventilating the brood-chamber thereof, through'the bottom of the hive having one of its walls extending obliquely downward and inwardly and cooperating therewith a correspondingly-beveled section adapted to close such opening and removable therethrough, means for supporting such beveled section in operative position closing such opening and a member slidably supported on the under side of such bottom and adapted to cover the joints between such opening and such cooperating beveled section.

4. In a beehive, a separating-fence between adjacent section honey-box frames comprising a series of horizontally-disposed wires and means for supporting the same under tension between such section honey-box frames, and means for adjusting the tension on such wires.

5. In a l beehive, a se arating-ence between adjacent section honey-box Jframes comprising a series of horizontally-disposed wires and means for supporting the same under tension between such section honey-box frames and means for adjusting the tension on such wires, such wires comprising the horizontal wires of a wire screen.

6. In a beehive, a se arating-fence between adjacent section oney-box 'frames comprising a series of horizontally-disposed wires and means Jfor supporting such wires under tension on one of such frames and between such frame and an adjacent frame and means for adjusting the tension on such wires.

7. In a beehive, a separating-fence between a section honey-box frame and an adjacent one on each side thereof comprising a series of horizontally-disposed wires and means for supportinfr such wires under tension on such section-hams and between such section-frame and such adjacent frame on each side thereof and means for adjusting the tension on such wires.

8. In a beehive, a separating-fence be-v an opening roc . thereof.

i Ichamber through the opening such guide-plate on the section-frame and such adjacent frames `on each side thereof, such wires adapted and operating to clamp the section honey-boxes together in such frame on which they are supported.

9. In a beehive, a separating-fence between a section honey-box frame and an adjacent one on each side thereof comprising a series of horizontallydisposed wires and means for supporting such wires under tension on such section-frame and between such section-frame and such adjacent frames on each side thereof, such wires adapted and operating to clamp the section honey-boxes toether in such frame on which they are supported and means for adjusting the tension on such wires.

10. In a beehive, a series of section honeybox frames and between them a series of separating-fences and means carried by alternate ones of such frames for supporting such separating-fences between each one of such alternate frames and an adjacent frame on each side thereof.

l11. In a beehive, a removable section in one of the side walls of the brood-chamber and independent of such removable section a removable brood-frame adapted to be withdrawn outwardly from such brood-chamber through the opening formed by the removal of such removable section in the side wall position in the brood-chamber, to cover such guide-plate on the top piece thereof and also to cover such guiding and supporting1 bars and to engage with their lower edges t e top piece of such brood-frame and adapted to cover and to prevent a cementing together by the bees of such top piece, guide-plate and guiding and supporting bars, in such removable brood-frame a compartment adapted to receive queen-cells, such compartment closed by a queen-excluding screen removably secured thereto and a passage-way from such compartment outwardly through the side wall of such brood-chamber, 'such passageway permitting a queen bee in such compartment to leave and enter the same and adapted to prevent a contact within the broodchamber between a queen in such compartment and a queen in such brood-chamber outside of such compartment.

14. In a beehive and in the brood-chamber thereof, a brood-frame having therein a compartment adapted to receive queen-cells, such compartment closed by a queen-excluding screen and a passa e-way from such compartment outwardly t rough the side wall of such brood-chamber adapted to prevent a contact within the brood-chamber between a queen in such compartment and a queen in such brood-chamber outside of such compartment.

15. In a beehive and in the brood-chamber thereof, a brood-frame having therein a compartment adapted to receive queen-cells, such compartment closed by a queen-excluding screen removably secured thereto and a v passage-way from such compartment outwardly through the side wall of such broodchamber adapted to prevent a contact within the brood-chamber between a queen in such compartment and a ueen in such broodchamber outside of suc compartment.

16. In a beehive, means for supporting the brood-frames in the brood-chamber thereof, comprising supporting-wires extending outwardly from the upper corners of such broodframes and metallic cleats supported near the upper edges of opposite side walls of such broodchamber and having notches therein ada ted to receive the supporting-wires in suc brood-frames and suitable bars adapted to rest upon the upper edges of such cleats and supporting-wires and adapted to hold such supporting-wires in place and to cover and prevent the filling up or cementing of the space between such supporting-wires and between such cleats and the adjacent side walls of such brood-chamber.

17. In a beehive, for spacing and holding 12. In a beehive, a removable section in one of the side walls of the brood-chamber, adapted to be withdrawn from the broodformed by the removal of such removable section a broodframe comprising top, bottom and end pieces, such top piece carrying a guide-plate, cooperating with such guide-plate guiding and supporting bars carried by a member supported within the brood-chamber and also carried by suchl member metallic cleats adapted, when such removable brood-frame is in position in the brood-chamber, to cover top piece thereof and also to cover such guiding and supporting bars and to engage with their lower edges the top piece of such brood-frame and adapted to cover and to prevent a cementing together by the bees of suchtop piece, guide-plate and guiding and supporting bars.

13. In a beehive, a removable section in one of the side walls of the brood-chamber, adapted to be withdrawn from the broodchamber through the opening formed by the removal of such removable section a broodframe comprising top, bottom and end pieces, such top piece carrying a guide-plate, coperating with such guide-plate guiding and supporting bars carried by a member supported within the brood-chamber and also carried by such member metallic cleats adapted, when such removable brood-frame is in brood-chamber a spacing device pivotally supported and adapted to be moved when desired to an inoperative position beneath the bottom bars of such brood-frames.

18. In a beehive, a series of section honeythe bottom bars of the brood-frames in the IIO boX frames `each ladapted to receive and supv port two or more section honey-boxes indeendently of any other one of such section honey-box frames and with the open ends of the section honey-boxes in each frame facing the open ends of the section honey-boxes in an adjacent frame, a separating-fence between the open ends of' the section honey-boxes in adjacent frames comprising a series of horizontally-disposed wires and means for supporting the same between such section-box frames under longitudinal tension operating -to oppose a lateral movement of such wires.

19. In a beehive, a series of section honeybox frames each adapted to receive and support two or more section honey-boxes inde-' pendcntly of any other one of such section honey-box frames and with the open ends of the section honey-boxes in each frame `facing the open ends of the section honey-boxes in an adjacent frame, a separating-fence between the open ends of the section-boxes in adjacent frames comprising a series of horizontally-disposed wires and means for supporting the same between such section-box frames under longitudinal tension operating to oppose a lateral movement of such wires, such wires comprising the horizontal wires of a wire screen.

20. In a beehive, a series of section honeyboX frames each adapted to receive and support two or more section honey-boxes indeendently of anyother one of such section oney-boX frames and with theopen ends of thesection honey-boxes in each frame facing the open ends of the section honey-boxes in an adjacent frame, a separating-fence between the open ends of the section-boxes in one frame and the open ends of the sectionboXes in an adjacent frame comprising a series of horizontally disposed wires and. means for supporting such wires under tension on such frame and between such frame and such adjacent frame.

21. In a beehive, aseries of section-honeyboX frames each adapted to receive and support two or more section honey-boxes indevendently of any other one of such section honey-box frames and with the open ends of the section honey-b oXes in each frame facing the open ends of the section honey-boxes in an adjacent frame, a separating-fence be-j| tween the open ends of the section-boxes in j one frame and the open ends of the sectionl boxes in adjacent frames on each side comprising a series of horizontally-disposed wires and means for supporting the same under tween honey-boxes comprising a series of horizontally-disposed Wires and means for supporting the same under tension between such section honey-boxes and means for adjusting the tension on. suoli. wires, such wires comprising the horizontal wires of a wire screen.

24a In a bcehive, a removable section in one el' the side walls of the brood-chamber and independent of such removable section a removable brood-frame adapted to be withdrawn outwardly from such brood-chamber 8o through the opening formed by the removal of such removable section in the side wall thereof, such brood-frame having therein a compartment adapted. to receive queen-cells, such compartment closed by a queen-excluding screen and a pasage-way from such compartment outwardly through the side wall of such brood-chamber adapted to prevent a contact within the brood-chamber between a queen in such compartment and a queen in such brood-chamber outside of such compartment.

25. In a beehive7 a removable section in Y one of the side walls of the brood-chamber and independent of such removable section a removable brood-frame adapted to be with.- drawn outwardly 'from such brood-chamber throu 'h the opening formed by the removal of suc removable section in the side wall thereof, such brood-frame having therein a compartment adapted to receive queen-cells,

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such compartment closed by a queen-excluding screen and a passa e-way from such compartment outwardly t rough the removable section in the side wall of such brood-chamber adapted to prevent a contact within the brood-chamber between a queen in such compartment and a queen in such brood-chamber outside of such compartment.

CHESTER A. GLMSTEAD.

Witnesses:

Lorrin Woon, WM. G'. STANDENMAIER. 

